Illuminable tool



.April 5, .1949. M, A, WATTS 2,466,342

,ILLUMINABLE TooL File@ Jan. e; 1948 INVENTOR. /e/w'f? Waffe Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINABLE TOOL Melvin A. Watts, Columbus, Ohio Application January 6, 1948, Serial No. 787 1 claim. (c1. 24o- 6.46)

This invention relates to a tool, such as a wrench, in which thel head is disposed in a relatively stationary position during use and in which, in any event, the tool is not used for or subject to sudden impact or blows.

An object of the invention is to provide a tool of this kind with means for illuminating the work as well as the operating portions of the tool durthrough the head of the wrench and showing an accessory tool associated therewith for performing types of work.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

With detailed reference to the drawing: the tool shown herein for purposes of illustration is a ratchet wrench comprising a head 'l and a handle 8 iixed thereto and preferably, as shown in Figure 2 formed integrally therewith. The head is provided with a work-engaging ratchet 9 lying within the head and rotatably mounted on la stud shaft I and having the usual cooperating pin and catch means I l associated therewith. It will be noted that the ratchet and the associated parts are located adjacent one side of the head.

Adjacent the other side, the head is formed with a housing I2 covered laterally by a plate I3. secured in place by screws i4 and l5 entering studs I6 and Il in the housing. A light .bulb I8 is mounted in the housing in a socket I9.

The handle 8 is hollow and has a battery 20 positioned therein. At 2| (Figure 2) the hollow of the handle is shown las communicating with the interior of the housing I2. Circuit connections 22 extend between the bulb socket I 9 and 2 the end contact 23 of posite end of the latter, a spring 24 bears at one end against the battery and at the other end against the inner face of a cap 25, threadedly mounted on the handle 8 and adapted to be selectively advanced or retracted for respectively energizing and de-energizing the light bulb and its circuit.

The plate I3 is formed with a light-directing aperture y26 by means of which a beam from the light is directed upon the work `and also illuminates adjacent parts of the tool itself. It will -be seen that, as the wrench is turned during use, the housing is simultaneously turned so that the beam follows the work. In narrow and restricted places, the wrench, as seen in Figure 3, may be placed in a iiat position with the light beam directed upwardly, and an accessory tool such as the upper socket member 21 of socket rod 28 applied to the wrench in a manner known.

Modifications will be suggested upon consideration of the means herein disclosed but these are believed to .be comprised within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In an illuminable ratchet wrench having a head, a tubular handle on one end of said head, a work-engaging member on one side of said head and the longitudinal axis of said handle and a ratchet for said member, said head being formed with a housing adjacent said work-engaging member on the other side of the longitudinal axis of said handle, a light bulb socket in said housing adjacent said ratchet, a iiashlight battery `in said handle, and circuit connecting means between said socket and said battery.

MELVIN A. WATTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 838,099 Garland Dec. 11, 1906 1,468,415 Purnell et al. Sept. 18, 1923 1,603,986 Rosenberg Oct. 19, 1926 2,134,081 Gaede Oct. 25, 1938 2,341,375 Hambleton Feb. 8, 1944 the battery. At the op-` 

